Catheter Tube System and Method for Producing a Catheter Tube System

Abstract

A catheter tube system has a first tube, in particular a multi-lumen tube, and at least one second tube, for example at least two single-lumen tubes. The inner lumina of the two tubes have a fluid connection to one another that is sealed in relation to an environment by means of a cured connecting compound. The result is a catheter tube system, in which the tubes are securely and tightly connected to one another.

1 . A catheter tube system
 with a first tube,   with at least one second tube with at least one inner lumen, the diameter of which differs from the diameter of the at least one inner lumen of the first tube,   wherein the inner lumina of the two tubes have a fluid connection to one another that is sealed in relation to an environment by means of a cured connecting compound.   
     
     
         2 . A catheter tube system
 with a multi-lumen tube as a first tube,   with at least two single-lumen tubes as second tubes,   wherein each of the single-lumen tubes has a fluid connection to a lumen of the multi-lumen tube,   wherein the fluid connections between the lumina of the multi-lumen tube and the single-lumen tubes are sealed in relation to one another in each case in a fluid-tight manner by means of a cured connecting compound.   
     
     
         3 . The catheter tube system according to  claim 2 , wherein the diameter of at least one of the inner lumina of the single-lumen tubes differs from the diameter of the associated inner lumen of the multi-lumen tube. 
     
     
         4 . The catheter tube system according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sealed fluid connection is completely provided by means of a cured connecting compound. 
     
     
         5 . The catheter tube system according to  claim 1 , comprising a cured connecting compound of at least one of the following materials:
 UV adhesive,   cyanoacrylate,   silicone adhesive,   epoxy resin,   high-strength adhesive,   a mixture of solvent and adhesive.   
     
     
         6 . The catheter tube system according to  claim 1 , comprising a connecting tube between the tubes, which is a component of the sealed fluid connection. 
     
     
         7 . The catheter tube system according to  claim 6 , wherein the connecting tube has an external diameter that varies along its extent. 
     
     
         8 . A method for producing a catheter tube system according to the invention having the following steps:
 positioning the first tube and the at least one second tube, so that an end portion of the at least one lumen of the first tube is arranged adjacent to the corresponding end portion of the lumen of the at least one second tube,   introducing at least one connecting body into the prepositioned tubes in such a way that the connecting body, on the one hand, penetrates into the end portion of one of the lumina of the first tube and, on the other hand, into the corresponding end portion of the second tube,   encapsulating the connecting body in the region of the two opposing end portions with a curable connecting compound,   curing the connecting compound to produce a cured connecting compound.   
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the connecting body is drawn from the catheter tube system once the connecting compound has cured. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 8  wherein the connecting body comprises a tube. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 8  wherein the lumen of the first tube has an inner diameter that is different than an inner diameter of the lumen of the at least one second tube. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 8  wherein the connecting compound is comprised of one of a UV adhesive, cyanoacrylate, silicone adhesive, epoxy resin, and a high-strength adhesive. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 8  wherein during the positioning step, introducing step, and the encapsulating step, the end portion of the lumen of the first tube and the end portion of the lumen of the at least one second tube are prepositioned adjacent one another in an insertion body. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13  wherein the first tube comprises a multi-lumen tube having a pair of lumens and the at least one second tube comprises a pair of second tubes that each have a lumen positioned adjacent a corresponding one of the pair of the lumens of the first tube during the positioning step; in the introducing step the at least one connecting body comprising (a) a first connecting body received in the end portion of one of the lumens of the first tube and in the end portion of one of the lumens of one of the second tubes and (b) a second connecting body received in the end portion of the other one of the lumens of the first tube and in the end of the one of the lumens of the other one of the second tubes; and in the encapsulating step, encapsulating the first connecting body in a region extending between the end portion of the one of the lumens of the first tube and the end portion of the one of the lumens of the one of the second tubes and encapsulating the second connecting body in a region extending between the end portion of the other one of the lumens of the first tube and the end portion of the one of the lumens of the other one of the second tubes. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 8  wherein during the positioning step, introducing step, and the encapsulating step, the end portion of the lumen of the first tube and the end portion of the lumen of the at least one second tube are prepositioned adjacent one another in an insertion body. 
     
     
         16 . The catheter system tube of  claim 1  wherein the first tube comprises a multi-lumen tube having a pair of lumens and the at least one second tube comprises a pair of second tubes with the inner lumina of one of the lumens of the first tube connected by one fluid connection to the inner lumina of the lumen of one of the second tubes and the inner lumina of the other one of the lumens of the first tube connected by another fluid connection to the inner lumina of the lumen of the other one of the second tubes. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16  wherein each fluid connection comprises a fluid connection provided by a cured connecting compound. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17  wherein each fluid connection further comprises a connecting body. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18  wherein each fluid connection comprises a tube. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 16  wherein each fluid connection comprises a connecting tube.